Automatic exploder.



E. H SCHRAGA.

AUTOMATIC EXPLODER. APPLICATlON man DEC. 21. 191-5.

Patented June 4, 1918.

%E AT T,

ERNEST HERMAN SCHIRAGA, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO- AUTOMATIC EXPLODER COMPANY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

AUTOMATIC EXPLODER.

Application filed December 27, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennns'r H. Sonnxca, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Automatic Exploder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a simple device which shall automatically and without attendance after bein started, produce, periodically, explosions, the noise, light or force of which, individually or collectively, may be used for causing an alarm to scare away wild and ferocious animals from domestic animals, camps or storehouses, or to attract attention.

I attain these results by the mechanism, a vertical section of which is illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

Chamber A is the explosion chamber. Gas, vapor or other fuel capable of forming an explosive mixture with air, enters the apparatus under light pressure through tube B and passes through check valve C into the explosion chamber A, where it mixes with the air. The pressure under which check valve C will open may 'be controlled by spring D, the tension of which may be ad justed by means of theadjusting screw E. An outlet tube F allows some of the explosive mixture to pass out near the top of the chamber over a flame G, which ignites the mixture, causing an explosion in chamber A, the force of which is relieved through holes H H. The cycle of operation is as follows:

With flame G lighted and gas or suitable fuel supplied at B, the gas forces check valve C open and diffuses through the air in chamber A until an explosive mixture is formed, part of which reaches flame G, thus causing an explosion which burns all the mixture in chamber A. The heated gases produced by the explosion loudly escape through the openings H H and tube F. The force of this explosion closes check valve C and holds it closed until the pressure in chamber A becomes nearly normal. Immediately after the explosion the pressure of gas opens check valve C and a fresh supply of fuel flows in; at the same time, the gaseous products of the previous explosion cool and contract, thus drawing fresh air into chamber A, Where it mixes with the fresh fuel. When this fresh Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Serial No. 68,939.

mixture becomes explosive and reaches flame G another explosion occurs and the cycle is repeated.

Many gases and vapors are suitable for use in the above described apparatus, and they may be supplied in any of the well known ways, but I have found acetylene very convenient on account of the ease with which it can be generated and the wide range of mixture which is explosive. The apparatus can be constructed in many forms, and several well known types of check valves may be used. Any of the usual methods of igniting gas may be substituted for flame G. It is only necessary to have the following conditions fulfilled:

(l) The explosion chamber must be so proportioned that the gases from the explosion can escape without damage, and fresh air may enter after the explosion;

(2) The check valve must be so constructed and adjusted as to prevent the fuel supply from lighting when the explosion occurs, but still allow gas or vapor to enter at a rate to form an explosive mixture;

(3) The outlet tube must be so arranged as to conduct some of the mixture to the flame or other means of ignition when the mixture becomes explosive.

I have found the form illustrated to be convenient and suitable when using acetylene gas.

I am aware that prior to my invention, many internal combustion engines have been made which automatically cause explosions accompanied by flashes of light, but such explosions are only incidental to the intended functions of the engines. I am also aware that complicated mechanisms have been invented which periodically shoot cartridges or suitable ammunition. I, therefore, do not claim broadly the invention of automatic explosions; but

I claim as my invention:

1. In a signal device of the class described, for automatically producing periodic explosion, the combination of an explosion chamber, means including an inlet for supplying an explosive medium to said chamber under pressure, and valve means in the chamber co operating with the inlet and normally held open by the explosive medium, said valve means being exposed to the explosive action and operable incident to the explosion to close the inlet and maintain it closed until the pressure in the chamber becomes normal, and the pressure of the medium becomes operative whereby to prevent pilot-lighting of the explosive supply.

2. In a signal device of the class described,

for automatically producing periodic explosion, the combination of an explosion chamber, means including an inlet for supplying an explosive medium to said chamber under pressure, means disposed exteriorly of the chamber so as not to be affected by the explosion for igniting the gases therein when the mixture in the chamber becomes of an explosive character, and means in the'chamber exposed to the explosive action and operable by the pressure of the medium to permit feeding of the latter to the chamber, said means being also operable incident to the explosion to close the inlet and maintain the same closed.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of an explosion chamber, means for supplying an explosive medium under pressure to said chamber, means yieldable under the pressure of the medium for admitting the explosive medium into the chamber, until the explosion is effected and means for regulating the last mentioned means to control the pressure under which the medium enters said chamber, said yieldable means constituting a check valve.

4. In a signal device of the class described, for automatically producing periodic explosion, the combination of an explosion chamber, means including an inlet for supplying an explosive medium to said chamber, and a regulatable check valve cooperating with the inlet to control the supply of the medium, said valve being held in position uncovering the inlet by the pressure of said medium and operable incident to the explosion in the chamber to cover said inlet whereby to prevent pilot-lighting of the explosive medium at the inlet.

5. In combination, an explosion chamber,

an inlet at one end for the supply of an explosive medium, an outlet at the other end, a check valve controlling the inlet yieldable under pressure of the medium to automatically supply the same to the chamber until the latter is full, regulatable tension means connected to said valve for controlling the pressure under which the medium enters the chamber, and ignition means adjacent to the outlet for igniting the medium when it begins to escape from the outlet.

6. In combination, an explosion chamber, an inlet for the supply of an explosive medium, a spring tensioned valve cooperating with the inlet yieldable under pressure of the medium to automatically supply the same to the chamber and operable by the explosion to close the inlet, and means for adjusting the tension on said valve to thereby control the pressure under which the medium enters the chamber and the time requirecl to fill the chamber, whereby frequency of explosion is regulated.

7. In an apparatus for automatically producing audible signals periodically, comprising an explosion chamber, a nozzle at its base for supplying an explosive medium thereto, said chamber having an air inlet adjacent to the nozzle whereby an explosive mixture is obtainable, an outlet at the other end of the chamber, a valve disposed on said nozzle, an adjusting member operably connected to the valve for controlling the action thereof under pressure of the explosive medium, and ignition means adjacent to the chamber outlet for exploding the admixture.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name, this 9th day of December, 1915.

ERNEST HERMAN SGHRAGA.

Witnesses:

A. TREGANTA, J. C. DAMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, D. C. 

